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June 13, 2006

BREAKING NEWS: Do the Right Thing

The Kansas City Starreportsthe Board of Trustees has hired my favorite of the three interim president candidates, Lawrence W. Tyree.

Previously, trustees announced they would name the interim president of JohnsonCounty Community College at their regular monthly meeting, June 15.

Tyree temporarily replaces Charles Carlsen who voluntarily retired after I broke the story alleging he sexually harassed an employee. Tyree will also aid in the search for a permanent president.

The college's information listserv (infolist) reports trustees will also name Teresa Williams as vice president of student services. Williams, from the University of Richmond, attended Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

Williams replaces Jon Long who resigned prior to the Carlsen scandal noting his inability to effectively advocate for students due to an atmosphere of institutional intimidation. Long sought to keep his job after the scandal broke. He said Calrsen's departure meant drastic changes ahead for students and staff and that he'd like to help guide them through the change.

It seems the trustees will hire both of my favorite candidates. Does this mean they're on the right track? Well, its like I told a source, "I'll never underestimate the board doing the wrong thing at the right time and the right thing at the wrong time."

For a while it seemed like the trustees deliberately did the wrong thing -- all the time. I mean, if it wasn't deliberate then just by sheer coincidence, they would have done the right thing at the right time.

Miguel M. Morales

Miguel grew up in Texas working as a migrant and seasonal farmworker. He is a Lambda Literary Fellow, a member of the Macondo Writers Workshop, and a VONA/Voices alum. Miguel also serves as president of the Latino Writers Collective.